By Ashwin N. Karia
A new chapter on Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) was added by an amendment to the Constitution of India. Article 51A(h) speaks about the scientific temper. It reads: “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.”
Importance of scientific temper
At the time of independence, religious passions were inflamed. People were killing each other in the name of religion. At that time there was tremendous pressure to declare India a Hindu State, after Pakistan declared itself an Islamic State. But our Constitution makers did not succumb to it and declared India a secular State.
But secularism is not enough. There were and are burning problems of poverty, unemployment, communal hatred, casteism and other evils. The Indian mentality, in general, is religious and therefore rigid and outdated. The defeat of Taliban in Afghanistan is a glaring example before us. Talibans were the rigid followers of religion and Americans of science. The Americans smashed them. This shows that religion is a path to poverty. At the same time, it should be noted that the path of science alone can bring progress and prosperity to the nation and a capacity to abolish poverty and other evils prevailing in the country.
The religious outlook has to be combated and replaced by the scientific temper among our masses. Our nation cannot progress without it.
Why is it mentioned in the Constitution of India
In our country we have a pluralistic society, with many religions, languages and castes. In our lives even today, religion plays a powerful role. Religion does not believe in experimentation and analysis. It believes in a final, a priori, truth. Religion is not democratic, because its dogmas is sacrilege, to be severely punished. Science does not regard anything as immortal. Science is that knowledge which becomes helpful to understand the real nature of natural and social forces.
The basis of religion is ignorance of the people about the real nature of natural and social forces. Religion is the path to weakness, ignorance, backwardness and poverty. With progress of science, today we no longer see sun as god. We also no longer believe that small pox is caused by Shitla Mata.
In order to overcome our weaknesses, backwardness, poverty and ignorance, we take help of religion. Without science and technology we will not be able to escape from our weaknesses, ignorance, poverty and unemployment. For this reason, a long process of peoples’ education towards scientific temper is required. In the Preamble of the Constitution of India, our goals are justice, fraternity, secularism, socialism and liberty. The influential prevalence of religion in the Indian society is a barrier in the achievement of our constitutional goals.
Our nation cannot progress unless religious outlook is replaced by scientific temper. Secularism and equality are absolutely essential if we have to survive and progress as a nation. It was felt necessary to emphasize the element of scientific temper, so by the 42nd amendment, scientific temper is mentioned in Article 51A(h).
Is there any conflict between freedom of religion and scientific temper
Certainly not. Article 25 guarantees all persons freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. On the other hand, Article 51A(h) makes it a fundamental duty to develop scientific temper and the spirit of enquiry and reform. Religion and science are in direct opposition to each other. Freedom of religion is not an absolute freedom. It is subject to public morality, health and other provisions of fundamental rights. Outwardly, there seems to be a conflict between Article 25 and Article 51A(h). Duty under Article 51A(h) is an individual duty. But individuals collectively can perform this duty.
Though we are a secular state, and still freedom of religion is provided for in Article 25, reconciliation between these two provisions is simple. Freedom of religion is permissible, but at the same time it must be noted that we ought to persuade and educate people to abdicate religion and change over to scientific temper.
We should not encourage people to build temples, churches and mosques. Because we do not need them. Actually what we require is that we should have more schools, hospitals and technical institutes. Temples, churches and mosques do not serve any purpose. We badly need schools, hospitals and technical institutes to eradicate poverty, unemployment and unhealthy atmosphere.
It is wrong to believe that renouncing religion is against Indian culture. Great scientists like Bhaskar, Aryabhatta, Charak, Sushrut, Chandrashekhar, Raman, Ramanujan, have greatly influenced a scientific temper. Article 25 and Article 51A(h) are alright at their respective places.
Promotion of scientific temper
It is every citizen’s Constitutional obligation to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform.
It is very sad that inspite of Government of India’s declaration of the year 2004 as the year of scientific awareness, no serious steps have been taken in that direction. Though we are a secular state and our every step should be in the direction of promotion of scientific temper, our wheels are in the reverse direction.
In every government function, we follow religious practices, we arrange Bhoomi Pujan which is against scientific temper and ultimately against the Constitution. At the time of elections, our candidates confirm Muhurats, seek the blessings of their respective Gods and call upon the voters to cast their vote in the name of religion and God. Our schools begin their teaching work with prayers. This is all against scientific temper.
For promotion of scientific temper, following steps are required to be carried either at individual level, collective level or government level.
- No Bhoomi Pujan should be allowed in government works.
- No candidate should come for filing nomination forms after publicly seeking blessing of God.
- All photographs of God and Goddesses should be removed from government offices, police stations and bus stands.
- No prayers should be offered in any school or any institution or any government function.
- No concession should be given for namaz to Muslims in any office, including government offices.
- There should be stoppage of subsidy for Haj and Man Sarovar Yatras.
- Permission for construction of temples, churches and mosques should be restricted.
- Asking for vote in the name of religion or God should be strictly prohibited.
- Permission for religious functions on public roads should not be granted.
- Coaching and textbooks should be designed so as to promote scientific temper.